As in medicine, the field of dentistry is constantly evolving. This means that new methodologies and approaches are created every day and sometimes they lead to new movements. Holistic dentistry, like holistic or alternative medicine, is becoming more and more common. It’s still not well-known, but there are dentists who practice it.
This little known type of dentistry started in 1978. It focuses on using products that are safe for the body and eliminating those that aren’t. Holistic dentistry still uses conventional treatment and care methods, unlike some alternative medicine practices.
Specifically, this type of dentistry stays away from amalgam fillings, BPA in composite fillings, and anything else that cause bacteria to enter the body. This methodology believes that bacteria is pushed into the body with traditional scale and polish methods. It also claims that the mercury in amalgam fillings is harmful to the kidneys.
On the other hand, the practice comes up with alternative treatment methods that are believe to help. Some of the include injecting Platelet Rich Factor (PRF) into dental wounds sites to speed up healing times.
Are These Claims True?
Before you decide to switch to a dental professional who focuses on holistic dentistry, it’s important that you do a little research. While these claims and ideas may seem truthful at first glance, you should know all of the facts before you agree to treatment plans that align with these views.
The first claim that amalgam fillings are dangerous is worth exploring. These are the commonly used silver fillings. Despite the insistence by the holistic dentistry community that amalgam fillings are bad, they’ve been in use for over 150 years. Since they’ve been in use for so long, research was done to examine the effects of these fillings on the body. To do this, scientists measured mercury levels in urine to determine if the fillings caused mercury toxicity. These Studies show that while these fillings do result in higher mercury levels in the body, the amount isn’t high enough to cause complications.
The FDA even acknowledges that there is not enough evidence to support the claim that these fillings are dangerous. Maybe you would rather be conservative with your dental health treatments. In that case, seeking out a dentist who does not use this filling is an option. Of course, dentists who follow this ideology have alternatives. They use BPA-free composite fillings instead. Both methods are effective and neither have proven to have significant negative side effects.
Another aspect of holistic dentistry is the use of PRF therapy. This is said to speed up the clotting and wound healing process after oral surgery. It’s done by taking a small amount of blood from the patient, spinning it in a centrifuge, and extracting the PRF. Then, it’s injected into the wound site. Studies conducted have shown that this therapy doesn’t have a significant impact on the healing process.
It appears that holistic dentistry has no downsides. It merely utilizes different techniques in effort to make dental procedures and treatments safer. To learn more about holistic dentistry and regular dentistry treatments, call our office to make an appointment.